Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Rakuten Eagles (26th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kyosuke Saito was pulled from the game after 2 innings, having given up 5 hit 5 runs (3 earned). In the first inning, he walked the leadoff batter Nakajima, and with two outs and a runner on Walk, third baseman So fumbled McCusker's hit. With runners on first and third and two outs, he gave up a go-ahead RBI single to Murabayashi, and then an RBI single to YG's Yasuda.

In the second inning, after one out, a Walk to Po Hsiang Yang and a left-field hit allowed to Nakajima led to a threat with runners on first and second. Subsequently, with two outs and runners on second and third, a two-run doble over right field was surrendered to Muneyama, followed by an RBI single to left field by McCusker, resulting in three runs lost.

Unable to capitalize on the opportunity of his first start this season, his first win in 773 days—since the Lotte game on July 14, 2024 (ZOZO Marine Stadium)—was put on hold. His ERA, which was 189.00 before the game, remains in a difficult situation at 38.57. "Starting with the walk to the leadoff batter, I ended up fighting against myself. I think I made the pitching difficult for myself by falling behind in the count," he reflected.